Music dealer s furnish ing-case



(No Model.)

G. SPRAY.

l MUSI DBALERS FURNISHING CASE. No. 285,317. Patented Septl 18, 1883.

Fig. 1. 't

` removable string and trimming boxes.

I UNiTED ,STATES PATENT OEEICE. 1

CHRISTOPHER SPRAY, OF SEDALIA, MISSOURI.

MUSIC DEAALERS FU RNlSH-l'NG-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 285,317, dated September 18, 1883,K

1 i `Application filed November 13, 1882. (No model.)

Ton/ZZ whom it may concer/1,:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER SPRAY,

of Sedalia, in the county of Pettis and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements inV Music Dealers Furnishing Cases for Strings and Trimmings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, in whichf Figure I is a top or plan view of a case embodying my improvements, Fig. 2, a transverse section of Fig. I; Fig. 3, a broken plan view ofthe case with one string-box removed to show the figures and letters marked on the bottom of the boxcompartment, the box being removed and shown in the same figure.

The object of the present invention is to provide a case for holding boxes, uncoiled strings, and small trimmings for stringed instruments which shall be so arranged and marked that there cannot be, with ordinary care, any displacement or mixing of the different articles in the case contained, and by such means keep the stock in a cleaner condition and more readily handled for sale.

The nature of my invention consists in a case in which are formed compartments to support Said boxes have marked thereon letters or figures respectively corresponding to letters or figures on the respective compartments, and they are removable, and for this purpose they project sufficiently above the case proper to enable them to be grasped by the hand, and those boxes which contain strings have attached thereto a sample-string of which the respective boxes contain.`

I am aware that heretofore it has been the custom to show different kinds of goods or wares in a single case provided with compartments for that purpose, and that such cornpartments have had marked thereon figures or letters,or both,to designate the goods, and that jewelers7 cases have been partitioned to hold different sizes of goods or wares, and that the sizes have been marked on the partitions to correspond with the marks on the goods; but I am not aware that any show-case or furnishing-case has been constructed where the boxes form a portion of the case and are removable, and where boxes are marked to correspond with their respective compartments and the boxes have affixed thereto samples of the goods or wares. I know that drawers in a case have been used, but they are not separate boxes; j,neither are they covered when drawn out, but

are only closed when shut into the case. I therefore disclaim boxes which are uncovered and boxes not wholly removable.

A represents a rectangular case, which may be madeof wood with-the compartments L formed therein; or made of heavy straw-'board and covered with paper or cloth, so as to present a neat appearance asa piece of furniture in a music-house, and it may be provided with a closely-fitting cover to attain greater security. The case shown is represented as made of suitable thick straw-board.

VK is thetop, having opening M; B, the bottom; G C, the ends, and D the sides, separated and strengthened by partitions E F. I am, however, not confined to any precise form, except it be one that will hold the string-boxes G and boxes H, I, and J substantially in the position shown. Yet the drawings illustrate the most conveniently formed case which I now have constructed. The boxes G are round, and they for use may be ordinary string-boxes prcperlyl labeled and placed in.

the compartments through the opening M in the top K; but as the string-boxes are for continnous use I prefer that they be made especially for the purpose quite strong and of durable material. I however claim nothing on the construction of the boxes. The boxes H are intended to hold pegs, keys, nuts, rosin, and bridges, and the box I to hold larger trimmings, such as tail-pieces and other trimmings. rIhe trimming-boxes may all be round; but if the box I be oblong it will take up less room in the present form of case. I prefer to make all the trimming-boxes oblong and with square angles, to economize room.

The string-boxes and the covers thereof are `There are two boxes marked as last stated,-

because these strings are worn out the more rapidly. The other boxes are marked G D IOO inches wide, and two inches deep; number of for guitar D-string; Gr A for guitar A-string; G E for guitar E-string; B for thumb and irst banjo strings; B for banjo fourth string.

The compartments in which the boxes are placed are respectively marked with the same letters or letters and iigures that are marked on the boxes, so that after the removal of a box the letters or iigures aforesaid will indicate to what compartment it should be returned, whereby a dealer may always know where to look for any specific goods.

At Fig. 3,where one of the boxes is removed from the compartment, the same letters are shown to be marked on the bottom of the oompartment that are marked on the box. It is well to state that I sometimes, instead of making the marks on the bottom of the compartment, make them on the margins on the top A between the boxes.

The boxes H, respectively, and their respective compartments are marked as follows: Rosim Pegs,77 Bridges,77 and Tail- Pieces, as shown. Other letters, however, may be marked thereon should one box contain more than one kind of goods.

The size which I have chosen for a sample case is twenty (20) inches long, fourteen (14:)

string-compartments eleven, and number of other compartments four. I however consider that a case provided with compartments for violin, guitar, or banjo strings separately, Y and the respective boxes and compartments vide for handling such goods a suitable long compartment, J, is formed at one side ofthe case, as shown, and it may be provided with an independent suitable lid. Vhere inexperienced clerks get the strings of two or more boxes mixed, a sample-string, m, of what the separate boxes contain may be attached by a staple, a, to the cover, so that it will be clearly indicated into what box any string should be put. p

I claim and desire to secure by Letters PatA ent of the United States- A music dealers furnishing-case consisting of a rectangular case, A, having a top, K, with openings M formed therein ,and compartments L formed in the case, in combination with removable covered boxes G, extending through the openings into the compartments and projecting above the top K when in place, the boxes being marked to correspond with marks on the compartments in which they belong, and the string-boxes having attached thereto samples of the' strings contained therein, as shown and. described, and for the purpose set forth.

CHRISTOPHER SPRAY.

Vitnesses:

G. L. CHAPIN, XVM. B. THOMPSON. 

